San Francisco Airport Arrival Alerts
Get a text when their flight lands at San Francisco SFO.
Get a text when they land at SFOAirport Code
SFO
Passengers/Year
57 million
Terminals
Terminal 1, Terminal 2, Terminal 3, International Terminal
Exit Time
35-60 minutes international, 15-20 minutes domestic
About
Arriving at San Francisco International Airport
SFO is United's largest Pacific hub and the main gateway for flights to and from Asia on the US West Coast. The International Terminal handles all overseas arrivals and is physically separate from the domestic terminals (1, 2, 3). United operates out of Terminal 3 for domestic and the International Terminal for long-haul.
From landing to exit on international flights takes 35-60 minutes. CBP queues depend heavily on how many trans-Pacific flights arrive simultaneously. Morning arrivals from Asia (which land 10am-1pm) tend to stack up. Automated Passport Control kiosks help if you're eligible.
Fog is SFO's operational challenge. The airport has two parallel runways that are close together, so low visibility forces single-runway operations and delays cascade quickly. Summer mornings and winter are worst for fog delays. If a flight shows "delayed" at SFO, fog is the most likely reason.
BART connects SFO to downtown San Francisco in about 30 minutes, with trains running every 15-20 minutes. The station is in the International Terminal. For pickups, the cell phone lot is off Highway 101, and each terminal has a designated pickup area on the departures level (upper roadway).
SFO is south of the city. Getting to downtown by car takes 25-40 minutes depending on traffic on US-101 or I-280. Rush hour adds significant time.
Pickup tip
International Terminal is separate. BART connects to downtown. Cell phone lot available off Highway 101.
How it works
Track SFO arrivals.
Enter the flight number
Type the flight number for the arrival to SFO.
Add your phone number
Enter the mobile number where you want to receive the alert.
Get a text when they land
We track the flight and text you when they touch down at San Francisco International Airport.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions.
How do I know when a flight lands at SFO?
Enter the flight number into SkyText. You'll receive a text when the flight lands.
Why are flights to SFO often delayed?
Fog. SFO's runway configuration means low visibility forces single-runway operations, causing delays.
How do I get from SFO to downtown San Francisco?
BART from the International Terminal takes about 30 minutes to downtown stations.
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Founder, SkyText
Aviation lover who built SkyText because families deserve to know when someone lands safely. Has tracked more flights than he'd like to admit.